MUSCAT : The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion is steadily advancing the Industrial Strategy 2040, which aims to raise the sector’s contribution to over RO 11.6 billion by 2040 and attract RO 40 billion in industrial investments, with a particular focus on green industries and advanced technologies.

The sector recorded a 7.45 percent growth in 2024, reaching over RO 3.6 billion at constant prices, representing 9.4 percent of GDP. This upward trend continued into 2025, with the first quarter showing 5.4 percent growth compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting the robustness of Oman’s industrial activity and the competitiveness of its investment environment.

In the field of foreign trade, non-oil commodity exports grew by 7.2 percent between January and May 2025, totalling RO 2.7 billion. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India remained the top importers of Omani products, underlining the expanding regional and global reach of Oman’s industrial output.

The number of Omani nationals employed in the industrial sector reached over 57,000 in 2024, demonstrating ongoing efforts to strengthen local workforce participation and support Omanisation targets across key economic sectors.

Eng. Khalid bin Salim Al Qassabi, Director General of Industry at the Ministry, stated that the sector’s recent performance is a testament to the success of national industrial policies. He highlighted the ministry’s initiatives to support manufacturers, localise supply chains, and enhance the industrial investment climate.

He indicated that strategic projects are being implemented in line with Industrial Strategy 2040, including the ‘Local Content Plan in the Industrial Sector – Manufacturing’, aimed at increasing local procurement and empowering Omani SMEs.

In this context, he pointed out that the first half of 2025 witnessed the implementation of a number of achievements, most notably the launch of the Advanced Automation Centre to enhance the transition towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution; completion of the delivery of 262 initiatives to 14 partner entities within the Industrial Strategy 2040 implementation plan; signing of cooperation agreements with international institutions such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC); and the completion of strategic studies related to the development of national industry.

He added that 20 factories were evaluated on the Smart Industrial Readiness Index (SIRI), and 55 new factories were granted National Product Identity Certificates.

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